Fashion | Model | Photography | Style Fashion

New York Fashion Week (September 12, 2009) – Stacey Bendet once again brings her work to life with the launch of alice + olivia’s spring 2010 collection. This season the innovative designer will transform a raw gallery space in New York City’s meatpacking district into a live rock concert scene featuring a performance by French girl band Plastiscines and styled by Stacey’s longtime friends Anda and Masha.

Following the success of the past themed presentations “alice in wonderland”, “breakfast in bed”, “hippy queen” and Mick Rock photo gallery at alice + olivia’s Bryant Park Store, Stacey once again spins a stylish tale through the music of the Plastiscines, enlisting the band to perform and promote the playful mood of the collection. Both the band and the runway models, posing as adoring fans, will showcase the designers’ spring looks.
Stacey’s inspiration for her spring 2010 collection was “the power of the female”. She wanted to represent girls “predicating sexuality, cleverness and charm” by combining influence from all the women who influence her every day. Keeping her feminine side in mind, she set about to create a collection she describes as “playful with an edge”. The designer often credits her line as catering to every kind of woman; creating clothes that are meant to make a woman feel both sexy and sweet. After seeing the Plastiscines’ “Barcelona” video, Stacey decided that there was no better way to bring her spring collection to life than with a performance by the band. The band exudes a “candy punk vibe” that is in tune with alice + olivia’s cleverly unique style.

Chic structured dresses in pale pinks, purples and neutrals are mixed with the brand’s traditional black and white colors. Small floral prints, embellished tops and structured jackets with cut out details define the flirty and inventive collection. alice + olivia will also showcase their basics line featuring t-shirts and button-downs in soft, butter-like fabrics, linens and metallics. This season alice + olivia also unveils their latest collaboration with the jewelry line Erickson Beamon and their continued partnership with Payless, featuring fashion-forward footwear for spring.
Spring 2010 will also mark the launch of alice + olivia’s premiere high-end collection. The new line was created to add more diversity for their specialty stores and allow customers to have a more unique alice + olivia shopping experience. The collection consists of hand worked pieces that use luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship. These edgy and inventive designs will be available as part of a limited edition collection.

As always, the imaginative and edgy collection will reflect Stacey’s lifestyle, as the ever busy designer continues to live bi-coastally and is mom to ten-month old daughter Eloise Breckenridge Eisner. Stacey views life and fashion as synonymous, and continues to find ways to creatively blend the two elements. With a chic spring collection brought to life by the Plasticines music, alice + olivia pushes the boundaries of art and fashion.

Milan Fashion Week Spring 2010
To the fashion set, she does not need an introduction. Karolina Kurkova had walked the catwalk in New York, London, Milan and Paris. To the general public, she is a Victoria’s Secret Angel; and to G.I. Joe fans, Karolina Kurkova is Courtney Krieger a.k.a Cover Girl, a former fashion model, Cover Girl grew bored with the profession and joined the military.

In the microcosm of fashion, the move from the catwalk to the silver screen is a preferred route by supermodels. In the macrocosm called the one half of the world, (as in half of the human population is female), women choose their own path as they see fit.

Yet, it was not like that just 100 years ago, when women were as much a slave to fashion the same way that they have to follow what society expected from them. And then, “The Great War” happened and it changed everything.

It is almost a century ago, during World War I (1914 – 1918) that Coco Chanel did away with the crinoline and bustle form and offered alternative style of dressing – men’s pullover sweaters, sailor jackets and straight skirts so that women can “work” while the men were fighting the war.

“The Great War” ended in 1918, and the changes it brought stayed, including women’s manner of dressing. Fast-forward 91 years – the world is still fighting wars and women are in the trenches side by side with men. It is no longer just G.I. Joe; G.I. Jane had broken the combat barrier.
Karolina Kurkova’s character “Cover Girl” is not just a work of fiction; she exists in real life; G.I. Jane is a fighter pilot, even a ground combatant. Women’s roles and society’s perception of her role has changed. And, it is continually changing.
Like Coco Chanel who had to re-invent how women dressed because of World War I, designers today have to deal with the many roles of women, which by the way are also constantly changing. As in the case of “Cover Girl,” a woman can be supermodel one day, G.I. Jane the next.
Designers have understood this. Though G.I. Jane wears a uniform, women’s style and taste are varied. Hence, we see Donatella Versace dressing strong women, today’s glamazons; while Giorgio Armani dresses these same women in pants and pant suits.

Dean & Dan Caten of DSquared understand that women can be party animals at one time but be touched by Jesus the next. Roberto Cavalli sees them as rock & roll royalty but also sends them to safaris.
What do the Milanese designers envision for Spring / Summer 2010? We will find out on Sep 23 – 30, 2009 when the Milano Moda Donna takes place